How is "quality assurance" defined in long-term care services?

Quality assurance in long-term care services is fundamentally defined as a method to monitor and improve care services. This involves systematic processes to evaluate the quality of care being provided, ensuring that it meets established standards and regulations. The emphasis lies on continuous monitoring, which helps identify areas of improvement and implement necessary changes to enhance the care experience for residents.

By focusing on monitoring and improvement, quality assurance aims to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care. This approach can involve various activities, including regular assessments of resident satisfaction, audits of care practices, and training staff to conform to best practices. The ultimate goal is to improve outcomes for residents, maintain compliance with regulatory standards, and foster an environment where high-quality care is the norm.

Other choices do not align with the core principles of quality assurance. Reducing costs, increasing staffing levels, and focusing on resident recruitment are important aspects of managing a long-term care facility but do not inherently relate to the ongoing process of evaluating and enhancing the quality of care services itself.